Ken Dixon, Staff Writer

Published 8:52 pm, Saturday, September 25, 2010

The two major candidates for governor are very familiar with the twice-a-day traffic nightmares endured by the commuters of southwestern Connecticut.

Both Republican Tom Foley, a private investor from Greenwich, and Dannel Malloy, the Democratic former Stamford mayor, are well aware that the state has struggled to maintain its infrastructure while raiding the state's transportation account for short-term operating funds.

Both promise to stop that tactic; to oppose railroad fare increases from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and use so-called Smart Growth measures to foster transportation options, housing and business growth.

Foley says that if elected, he will gather experts to study and come up with solutions to ease traffic congestion along the Merritt/Wilbur Cross parkways and Interstate 95.

He opposes raising the petroleum taxes that make up the bulk of the state's transportation funding. Foley also has a one word answer to the question of whether he'd support tolls on state roads: "No."

Malloy says his 14 years experience as Stamford mayor indicate a record of using Smart Growth measures.

While leaving open the possibility of tolls on interstate highways, Malloy said that such a back-to-the-past move would have to include rock-solid assurances that the General Assembly could not renege on the source of new transit funding and take it away for operating revenue.

Transportation dollars must be used for what they were intended and the state has to become more aggressive in obtaining transit support from Washington, Malloy says.

During interviews last week, both Malloy and Foley warned that the more than $1.5 billion in underfunded transit repairs and maintenance has put the state in a perilous position.

"We pare down expenditures in other areas to make sure we have money for priorities such as transportation," said Malloy, vowing to end what he called the era of politically expedient local projects, such as playgrounds and ball fields, getting on the agenda of the State Bond Commission, which the governor controls.

"We have failed to set our priorities with respect to the capital dollars that we have," Malloy said.

"We didn't make transportation a priority."

Foley said the state's approach to transit needs is symptomatic of a wider problem. "We've been spending too much and investing too little," he said. "They've been diverting money into the general fund to help their out-of-control spending."

Malloy, noting the looming $3.4 billion deficit in the $19 billion budget that will start next July 1, said that he would consider new toll plazas, "only" if the revenue could be thoroughly protected from uses other than transportation needs.

"I know what will happen: it will be misappropriated by future governors or legislators," he said.

"The only way I would even put it on the table would be if a legal wall were erected, an authority created specifically devoted to transportation bond payments."

Foley said he's heard many different theories on the causes and possible solutions for the traffic that often paralyzes the region in the morning and afternoon commutes.

"It's certainly tough on commuters and costs us jobs," Foley said. "I think multi-state employers are in some cases reluctant to increase the number of people in Connecticut. It's something that needs a solution. I think we really need a plan to get together the experts and see what can be done. But the solution is not tolls."

Malloy says the MTA gives Connecticut issues short shrift because there is no fully empowered state resident on the board.

"Our participation in Metro-North discussions will be a priority for me," Malloy said.

"If you examine state behaviors over the last 10 years, we have been odd fellows. We have not attended meetings, or staked out positions. We failed to go after federal dollars for rail cars. That's a dysfunctional relationship that the next governor has to make a priority for change."

Foley agreed.

"We end up paying for the railroad cars and they run them for us," Foley said. "I think a lot of people I've met on the campaign trail have said it would be nice if Connecticut had more of a voice on the MTA."